Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 296, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1916 — Trend of Club Work [ARTICLE]

Trend of Club Work

Development of Social Side of Rural Life Prominent Feature of Club Projects. CHWHJ€HCHWOiXHKH>CHW>iKHCHJrtHKHOHai In the early development of the agricultural club work the financial possibilities were usually stressed and large cash prizes were offered to induce young people to enter into and complete the various phases of club work. This niethod of creating interest has fallen into disfavor. The tendency has been to present the work on its merits. The desire on the part of club leaders and other extension workers is that the members enter the work for the ben’efits to be derived rather than in the hope ofwinning a Jarge cash prize. The agricultural papers of the country have published the financial side of the work. The school authorities are more and more appreciating the educational value of practical agriculture. Many educators, who know the great need of rural children for school training that will fit them for their environment —life on the farm—turn to the agricultural clubs work as one of the means of vitalizing the work'of the rural schools—especially those schools that are attempting to teach agriculture without adequate laboratory equipment. Such educators see in club work a means to the end that the home farm of the student becomes an efficient working laboratory without the expense to the school system. They have been convinced that the schools that are active in club work are in general the most efficient schools, and that the pupils engaged in club work are not only the best behaved but that their scholarship grades are much higher than those of the nonclubTmembers. This comes from the fact that the .necessary motive is offered and the heart interests of the children are engaged. As a result, the school work and the home life of'the members re tied up very closely* and the relation between the twu is more firmly cemented. Club work is an important spoke in the wheel of vocational training which is rapidly being rolled to the forefront of educational endeavor.

The social side of club work is more and more to receive the attention its importance merits. The club groups in practically every State of the Union are holding regular monthly meetings under the direction of some mature and experienced leader (in many cases school teachers). Officers electad from the club membership preside and carry on the meeting according to parliamentary law. The programs, together with references and suggestions . are furnished to the club each month by the State agent. Each member reports the-pro-gress of his or her work. Timely articles of instruction are presented by the members and by experienced adults. In most of the Northern and Western States the club meeting is divided into three sections: First, business; second, subject matter program; and, third, the social program, suggestions being furnished by leaders on all three phases. As la rule, 90 minutes are used, giving 20 minutes to business, 40 to the subject matter, and 30 to the social interests. The local leader is always present at these meetings to advise and dinecessary. | association with each other and taking part in the club program causes the members to wear off the rough corners of their social side. The individualistic ten. dency of the rural people is thus weakened and the way to rural -cooperation and organization is paved. Strictly" social meetings, picnics, field days, ete., are held at various times. Thus, the club work tends to take an increasingly important part in the development of the social side of rural life.